A Novel, Model-Based, Specification-Driven Embedded Software Integration Platform

This paper presents a model-based, specification-driven Embedded Software integration Platform (ESiP) we refer to as Ensemble. Its primary objective is to shorten the portion of the embedded systems' life cycle accelerating their paths from conceptualization through design, development, testing, verification, and transition into production and maintenance. The platform achieves this objective by heavily relying on automation of model and code synthesis for portions of embedded software which are not essential to the software's core functionality, but critical for the overall requirements of compatibility and interoperability of embedded applications with modern deployment ecosystems. This partially relieves the burden placed on embedded application developers allowing them to focus on the application core without being overburdened by interoperability and portability constraints of their application, thus reducing the overall cost of the development process. The paper introduces a new, declarative meta-language called Ensemble iSpec, which allows to define system of system, data type definition, build, and deployment specifications. The paper then presents Ensemble ESiP architecture which relies on iSpec for development and integration automation. We describe common workflows used in embedded system design automation using Ensemble platform. The paper also works through three case studies illustrating how the platform helps in embedded system test and evaluation, integration and deployment, as well as how it applies to development of complex systems of systems simultaneously targeting heterogeneous deployment environments consisting of real-time, embedded platforms, cloud computing platforms as well as so-called edge segments bridging the gaps between “clouds and embedded boxes”.